Carcass-splitting machine.



D. E. CLIFFORD.

CARCASS SPLITTLNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.4.1914.'

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

INVENTOR,

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m a M ATTORNEY.

DANIEL E. CLIFFORD, OF W'ARE, iunssaon'usntrrs.

OARCASS-SPLITTING MACHINE.

' Specification of Letters Patent Application filed August 4, 1914. Serial'Ho. 854,943.

To all whom it may concern." I

Be it known that I, DANIEL E. Current), a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of \Vare, in the county of I-Iampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carcass-Splitting Machines, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in a machine for splitting carcasses, more particularly beeves, and pertains to a machine which comprises in combination with a trackway or other support for the carcass a vertically movable carrier having arranged and supported therebelow a blade which upon the descent of the carrier is caused to forcibly cut through the carcass along the line of the backbone.

The object of the present invention isto provide means whereby the blade which while bodily movable with its carrier also has, independently of the latter, a vibratory motion so that a chopping action is assured.

Other objects are to improve the machine and render it more convenient and available for its required utilization.

The invention is described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the machine transversely of the trackway and the cutting blade. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation as seen at right angles to Fig.1 and on the plane indicated by line 22.

In the drawings the carcass support comprises a trackway including the double separated rails A A on which the carcass carrier may run, the same including rollers a a as heretofore usual and from which, by hooklike hangers, the whole beef is suspended from the hind quarters.

B represents the usual vertically movable carrier body,ysometimes termed the elevator, and understood as having up and down movements within a suitable range and by which the cutting blade C is carried.

In the carrying out of my invention, the carrier body B is provided with clownwardly convergent hanger members D D having considerable extension below the carrier B; and the said carrier B also has comparatively short intermediately located depending members Z) 6, formed with vertical slots (Z therein as shown in Fig; 2.

The bar E,'horizonta'lly arranged, has, by the studs f at its ends, engagements in the slots of the depending members 5 whereby such horizontal bar E is constrained stead ily for its bodily vertical movements. Said bar E, moreover, has a longitd'uinal slot 9 in its middle portion.

The blade C is horizontally arranged between the approached, but slightly separated, extremities of the depending con vergent members D D, said blade thereat having the vertical slots in h and the members having the studs 2' 2' in guiding engagements in said slots. Duplicated bars G G connect the horizontal bar E and the blade C.

An electric or other motor M is represented as supported by and below the carrier body B, the same having a revoluble crank pin m which has engagement in the slot 9 of the bar E, whereby under the running of the motor the bar is vertically vibrated, correspondingly vibrating the blade.

The roller carrier from which the carcass is suspendedbeing brought along the trackway to proper position relatively to the vertically movable blade, at a time when the latter by its carrier 13 is elevated and restrained by the stops L L will, on the descent of the blade, be severed throughout the whole length thereof under the downward bodily movement of the blade, and greatly facilitated by the vibratory or chopping motion thereof. The aforementioned stops L L are mounted to swing on the pivots n n and have inward extensions of.

o 0 represent trip members so pivotally mounted as to be free to swing in upward directions only, so that they may freely pass the extensions 41 of the stop members in the downward, working, action of the machine, but adapted to engage and elevate the stops, on the upward return movement, whereby to permit the onward passage of the roller provided carrier with the split portions of the carcass conveyed thereby.

I claim 1. A machine for splitting animal carcasses including a vertically movable carrier, a convergent frame depending from the carrier, a blade arranged between the converging ends of the frame sections, connections between the frame and blade to per- Patented Dec. 2%, 1915. I

Init a limited vertical play of the blade with relation to the frame and means arranged Wholly below the carrier and Within the frame to impart vertical reciprocatory movement to the blade.

2. I11 a machine for splitting animal carcasses including a vertically movable carrier, a V-shaped frame depending from the carrier, a blade mounted for movement in the apex ofthe frame, connections between the frame and blade to permit a limited vertical movement of the blade with respect to the frame, supports depending from the carrierrwithin the frame, a bar connected to and arranged for limited vertical movement with respect to the supports, means arranged Within the frame and below the carrier for operating the bar, and a connection between said bar and blade.

3. In combination, a carcass support in cluding a trackway and members movable on the trackway, of stops to limit movement of said members relative to the tr'ackway, a vertically movable splitting frame, and means carried by the frame to operate the stops in the movement of the frame in one 7 direction. 7

4:. In combination, a trackway, carcass supporting elements adapted for travel along the trackway, stops cooperatingwith the trackway to limit movement of said'elements thereon, a vertically movable splitting member, and trips carried by said splitting member to engage and operate the stops in movement of the splitting member in one direction.

Signed by me at Springfield, Mass, in presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses. V

' DANIEL E. CLIFFORD. Witnesses p G. R. DRIsooLL, J. D. LONG.

Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner: of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

